FROM PRESIDENT INCH

Edward S. Inch, President Brian Martensen, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Lynn Akey, Vice President for Student Success, Analytics and Integrated Planning Mark Johnson, Vice President for IT Solutions & CIO David Jones, Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management Henry Morris, Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Kent Stanley, Vice President for University Advancement Richard Straka, Vice President for Finance & Administration Sheri Sargent, Chief of Staff

TODAY

FALL 2021................................... VOLUME 23 ISSUE 1 EDITORIAL DIRECTOR...................Sara Gilbert Frederick EDITOR....................................................Joe Tougas '86 DESIGNER ............................................ James Mackey ORIGINAL PHOTOS ....... John Cross, Vanessa Knewtson, Steve Woit, Brian Zins ’02, ’08 PRINTER.......................Corporate Graphics Commercial WRITERS ................. Grace Brandt ’13, Helen Healy ’92, Nick Healy ’93, ’05, Mike Lagerquist ’84, Mariem Semega Drew Lyon '06, Robb Murray ’95 PRINT COORDINATOR ..........................Ryan Schuh '00 CONTRIBUTING STAFF .............................. Dan Benson, Kim Rademaker ’93, Connie Wodtke ’91, Richard Crispo TODAY is published two times per year by the Division of University Advancement. TODAY is distributed to more than 100,000 alumni and friends. The mission of TODAY is to entertain, to inform and to connect the reader to the campus. TODAY welcomes story ideas supporting this mission. Full manuscripts are not accepted. TODAY is not responsible for unsolicited material. TODAY is copyrighted in its entirety. This volume and all articles, images and photographs within may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the editor. ADDRESS CHANGES & CLASS NOTES: Send to TODAY, Class Notes & Address Changes, Minnesota State University, Mankato, 232 Alumni Foundation Center, Mankato, MN 56001, e-mail to today@mnsu.edu, by fax to 507-389-2069 or call 507-389-2523. Death announcements must be accompanied by a memorial service program or published newspaper obituary. LETTERS: Send letters intended for publication to TODAY, Minnesota State University, Mankato, 232 Alumni Foundation Center, Mankato, MN 56001, e-mail to today@mnsu.edu or fax to 507-389-2069. TODAY reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. Include name, address, graduation year and daytime telephone number. Unsigned letters are not considered for publication. All letters become property of TODAY. Submission of your letter constitutes your permission to publish it.

This document is available in alternative format to individuals with disabilities by contacting the magazine staff at the address, e-mail, and/or fax number listed above or at 800-627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTY). INMK14OT 08-21

FROM THE PRESIDENT

MOVING INTO A NEW HOME

Earlier this month, I experienced my first Move-in Days here at Minnesota State University, Mankato. It was great to see all the activity and excitement of students returning to campus and settling in the residence halls again. Even while lugging their belongings up to their rooms, it was apparent that they are as excited to be here as I am. I have also had my own Move-in Days this summer, as I moved into my new house in Mankato during June. I already feel at home here at the University and in the Mankato community. The campus and community have been wonderful—thank you to everyone who has given me such a warm welcome! By now, I’m sure most of our students have settled in their rooms, apartments and rental houses. I, however, still have a lot to unpack. And I’m not just talking about the boxes stacked in the garage. Being new here, I have a great deal to learn about Minnesota State Mankato and our communities. With each passing day, and each person I meet, I learn more about the tremendous history of this institution, the people who have helped make it what it is, and the opportunities for growth and change as we look toward our future. It’s exciting to think about the next chapter in Minnesota State Mankato’s story. I’m honored to be here, working with all of you to develop plans to help us get to where we need to go. I have ideas—some just might be big ideas—that I’m eager to share with you over the next several months. More importantly, I want to hear your big ideas and your stories. I hope to engage all of you—alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students—in conversations about the future of our great university over the next year. The best place to start may be this magazine, in which you’ll find out more about who I am, where I came from and how I think. I appreciate the opportunity to share some of my stories with you along with all the other compelling stories you’ll find here. We have alumni and students who are doing great things, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading about them in this issue. In the meantime, I will continue to unpack and learn. I am excited to be here. Go Mavs!

Edward Inch President